Approaching 65 (Medicare) Having difficult time with Advantage vs Supplemental Plans

[ShokWaveRider]

Here is something I saw today: Florida does have open Enrolment not necessarily on one's birthday but from October 15 through December 7th for 2018.

State of Residence
Unfortunately, many people are going to be coerced into dropping their Plan F and purchasing a Plan G by agents who are either looking for easy business or just don’t understand all of the variables at play. If you live in a state that allows an open enrollment on your birthday, keeping a Plan F may make sense. This rule allows individuals to switch from one Plan F to another Plan F on their birthday or effective date (depending on state) without answering any underwriting questions. This helps individuals offset possible increases by changing carriers.

Called Boomer Benefits. CURRENTY it is a stipulation of the AARP agreement that plan switching to a lesser plan (G) would not be underwritten. That may change in 2020.

[TwoByFour]

My wife was a teacher and had a very good medical plan at work (it was Blue Cross/Blue Shield). They gave her the option of keeping it when she retired, which we did. It is now our secondary insurance to Medicare. At first I was skeptical of it and advocated that we just get a part D and part G as it would be cheaper premiums. But DW insisted we keep the BCBS secondary because it has greater benefits. Fast forward 3 years, and DW has a medical problem that is treated with a drug that costs about $4000/month. She has been on the drug for 2 years and it has cost us pennies.

Moral of the story - if you have a plan with work that you can keep when you retire, you might consider it rather than Medigap. Especially if you have any medical issues.